- Banned
- #1
Apparently.
Otto back
4:35:31 PM Tue 26 July, 2005
Paul Gough
Sportal for afl.com.au
Geelong ruckman Brad Ottens is finally ready to make his long-awaited return from a groin injury in a major boost to the Cats' hopes of securing a top four finish.
Ottens will return for Friday night's clash against Essendon at Telstra Dome in what will be his first match since round 12.
During his absence the Cats have lost three of their five matches and have slipped outside the top four following last week's shock loss to the Western Bulldogs.
While Cats' fans have become frustrated at Ottens' continued absence with what was originally thought to be a minor groin injury, Geelong football manager Garry Davidson told Sportal the former Tiger was a certain starter this week.
"We have just had our medical meeting and all the indications are that he is ready to go,' Davidson said of Ottens.
Davidson said the Cats were forced to take a cautious approach with Ottens over fears his groin injury could have developed into a full blown case of the dreaded osteitis pubis.
"We didn't want him to get to a stage where he would come back and play one game and then miss the next one," he said.
"He was tight through the groin but if he had kept playing and training it could have lead to osteitis pubis."
Ottens' value to Geelong in his first season at Skilled Stadium has been emphasised by not only his ruckwork but by the fact he had also kicked 20 goals for the season, including at least one major in his previous nine games.
"It's pretty hard to replace big blokes," Davidson said of Ottens' importance to Geelong.
The Cats are also expecting to regain the hard-running Corey Enright, who like Ottens has been sidelined since the round 12 clash with Adelaide, from a knee problem.
Enright is the likely replacement for David Johnson, who will miss up to a month after sustaining another hamstring injury last week, while Davidson said the Cats could make several changes to the team following last week's poor performance against the Bulldogs.
Amongst the players being considered for inclusion to take on the Bombers besides Ottens and Enright are goalsneak Shannon Byrnes and key forward David Haynes, who kicked six goals in the VFL last week.
Otto back
4:35:31 PM Tue 26 July, 2005
Paul Gough
Sportal for afl.com.au
Geelong ruckman Brad Ottens is finally ready to make his long-awaited return from a groin injury in a major boost to the Cats' hopes of securing a top four finish.
Ottens will return for Friday night's clash against Essendon at Telstra Dome in what will be his first match since round 12.
During his absence the Cats have lost three of their five matches and have slipped outside the top four following last week's shock loss to the Western Bulldogs.
While Cats' fans have become frustrated at Ottens' continued absence with what was originally thought to be a minor groin injury, Geelong football manager Garry Davidson told Sportal the former Tiger was a certain starter this week.
"We have just had our medical meeting and all the indications are that he is ready to go,' Davidson said of Ottens.
Davidson said the Cats were forced to take a cautious approach with Ottens over fears his groin injury could have developed into a full blown case of the dreaded osteitis pubis.
"We didn't want him to get to a stage where he would come back and play one game and then miss the next one," he said.
"He was tight through the groin but if he had kept playing and training it could have lead to osteitis pubis."
Ottens' value to Geelong in his first season at Skilled Stadium has been emphasised by not only his ruckwork but by the fact he had also kicked 20 goals for the season, including at least one major in his previous nine games.
"It's pretty hard to replace big blokes," Davidson said of Ottens' importance to Geelong.
The Cats are also expecting to regain the hard-running Corey Enright, who like Ottens has been sidelined since the round 12 clash with Adelaide, from a knee problem.
Enright is the likely replacement for David Johnson, who will miss up to a month after sustaining another hamstring injury last week, while Davidson said the Cats could make several changes to the team following last week's poor performance against the Bulldogs.
Amongst the players being considered for inclusion to take on the Bombers besides Ottens and Enright are goalsneak Shannon Byrnes and key forward David Haynes, who kicked six goals in the VFL last week.
